It's a Wonderful Life Reviews

This is the all-time great, curl-up-on-the-sofa-with-a-cup-of-tea movie. Not only is it beautifully photographed, but it also contains enough emotional strength to hold your attention for all of its two-hour running time.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5

It's a Wonderful Life is about hunger. It's about greed. It's about the many ways a good man is stymied. Finally, it's about George Bailey, whose decency prevents him even from killing himself.

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I wasn't able to get reasonably straight about it for quite a while. I still think it has a good deal of charm and quality, enough natural talent involved in it to make ten pictures ten times as good, and terrific vitality or, rather, vigor.

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This classic delivers warmth all year long.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5

Is the movie corny? Often. Is it moving in the most basic, moral way? Every year we watch it.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4

One could use It's a Wonderful Life to teach their children values: compassion, selflessness, loyalty, and self-respect.

Full Review | Original Score: 93/100

Raise your hand if you think 'It's A Wonderful Life' is mushy, sentimental, over-praised hokum. Now, go to your room. Both of you.

Full Review | Original Score: 10/10

If you can separate - or rescue - It's a Wonderful Life from its niche as a Christmas classic, you might discover a film that swings wildly from noirlike starkness to saccharine bathos.

Full Review | Original Score: 87/100

It's a Wonderful Life is a pretty wonderful movie.

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A genuine American classic.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5

You'd have to possess a very hard heart not to find something to love in this story.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5

It ain't just hype; it really is a true holiday classic.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5

Without overlooking its lapses into populist bathos, it's necessary to rescue It's a Wonderful Life from its spot at the centerpiece of untouchable American "classics."

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4

George Bailey and Bedford Falls never looked so good!

Full Review | Original Score: 10/10

The epiphany of movie sentiment and a transcendent experience.

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The April-air wholesomeness and humanism of this natural bring back vividly the reminder that, essentially, the screen best offers unselfconscious, forthright entertainment.

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History vindicated Capra: Though failure at the time of release, the superbly acted film (terrific Jimmy Stewart) is recognized today as undisputable masterpiece; the film's message didn't fit the disillusioned mood of the country right after WWII

Full Review | Original Score: A

As warm and comforting as a scarf knit by Grandma.

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Deserving of one viewing per year, preferably without the interruption of commercials.

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Regardless of whether or not you believe in angels, it's a wonderful movie.

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